Overweight or obese adults more prone to depression: Study

Researchers have found in a new study that the risk of depression also rose with higher weight, according to Obesity analysis.

Researchers conducted a study to describe the age‐ and gender‐specific incidence of depression, the dose‐response relationship between BMI and risk of depression and antidepressant drug prescribing in adults with overweight or obesity.

They studied electronic health record retrospectively using the Clinical Practice Research Datalink to identify adults with overweight and obesity (≥ 18 years) with incident depression (no prior depression diagnosis in their records), followed up from 2000 to 2019.

In an analysis of primary care records of 519,513 UK adults who were overweight or obese between 2000–2016 and followed up until 2019, the incidence of new cases of depression was 92 per 10,000 people per year. 

The study also found that antidepressants were prescribed in approximately two-thirds of adults who were overweight or obese. Prescriptions for fluoxetine dropped over time (from 20.4% in 2000 to 8.8% in 2018) and prescriptions for sertraline increased (from 4.3% in 2000 to 38.9% in 2018).

"Our findings highlight the complex relationship between depression and obesity," said lead author Freya Tyrer, of the University of Leicester, in the UK. "We would like to see tailored guidance on antidepressant prescribing and services that focus on both mood and behaviors to improve outcomes for these individuals."

The researchers found a dose‐response relationship between BMI and incident depression. They also found some ambiguity over prescribing of antidepressants in adults who had overweight or obesity.

They recommended guidance on antidepressant drug prescribing and specific services for people with obesity and depression that address both symptoms and behaviors.

For more details click on the link: https://doi.org/10.1002/oby.22772